Report: Lakers missed chance to hire Thibodeau

Before being wooed by the Minnesota Timberwolves and their stable of tantalizing young talent, Tom Thibodeau had eyes for Hollywood.

Thibodeau would've jumped at the chance to coach the Los Angeles Lakers, but they hesitated and missed their chance, The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

As the Lakers deliberated about the future of incumbent coach Byron Scott, the Timberwolves swooped in and made Thibodeau an offer he couldn't refuse: a lucrative, long-term contract complete with front-office control of a team stuffed to the gills with potential.

The Lakers don't have a roster that can compete with Minnesota's for upside, but Thibodeau was reportedly optimistic that if given the chance, he'd be able to lure free agents toward the bright lights of Los Angeles.

Instead, he'll be trying to build a powerhouse in the state that gave the Lakers their name so many years ago.